Department of Numbers

Omaha-Council Bluffs, Nebraska Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Omaha fell 0.1 percentage points in January 2023 to 2.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.0 percentage points lower than the Nebraska rate. The unemployment rate in Omaha peaked in April 2020 at 9.5% and is now 7.0 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.3% in May 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare Omaha unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
Nebraska 2.5% -0.2 +0.4
Omaha 2.5% -0.1 -0.1
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2023 data as February metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Omaha, Nebraska, National

Omaha, Nebraska monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Omaha, Nebraska Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Omaha peaked in April 2020 at 47,260. There are now 34,388 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 11,757 in May 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,115. Omaha employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Omaha, Nebraska) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Omaha 12,872 -543 -23

Number of Unemployed Persons

Omaha, Nebraska Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Nebraska
Unemployment Rate
Omaha
Unemployment Rate
Omaha
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 2.5% 2.5% 12,872
December
2022
3.5% 2.7% 2.6% 13,415
November
2022
3.6% 2.7% 2.6% 13,110
October
2022
3.7% 2.7% 2.5% 12,710
September
2022
3.5% 2.6% 2.4% 12,375
August
2022
3.7% 2.6% 2.4% 12,183
July
2022
3.5% 2.4% 2.4% 11,982
June
2022
3.6% 2.2% 2.3% 11,814
May
2022
3.6% 2.1% 2.3% 11,757
April
2022
3.6% 2.0% 2.4% 11,947
March
2022
3.6% 2.0% 2.4% 12,236

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.